London (AFP) – Everton manager Ronald Koeman is hoping a run of four home games starting with Wednesday's League Cup tie against Sunderland will help his side arrest an alarming run of defeats. The Toffees have played five of their past six matches away from home — including fixtures at both table-topping Manchester clubs and […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane believes the harsh treatment meted out to Gareth Bale by his own fans at the Santiago Bernabeu can push the Welshman to greater heights. Bale bounced back from jeers as Real opened their Champions League campaign with a 3-0 win over APOEL Nicosia last week by scoring […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich have confirmed their Germany goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer will be out until January having undergone another operation on Tuesday after again fracturing his left foot. The 31-year-old had only returned at the end of August after fracturing the same foot in April. He suffered the fresh injury in training […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich have confirmed their Germany goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer will be out until January having undergone another operation on Tuesday after again fracturing his left foot. The 31-year-old had only returned at the end of August after fracturing the same foot in April. He suffered the fresh injury in training […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona hope record signing Ousmane Dembele could be back in action in three and a half months after successful surgery on a torn hamstring in Helsinki on Tuesday. "Dembele was successfully operated on Tuesday to repair a ruptured biceps femoris in his left leg," Barca said in a statement. "He is expected […]

Berlin (AFP) – Cologne have made a U-turn on plans to lodge an official protest to the German Football Association (DFB) about a controversial goal in their 5-0 drubbing at Borussia Dortmund, the club said on Tuesday. The Bundesliga strugglers said they will not contest the final result of the game and will now simply […]

London (AFP) – British anti-discrimination group Kick It Out on Tuesday called on Manchester United fans to stop a "racist" chant about striker Romelu Lukaku. The 24-year-old arrived from Everton in the summer for a fee that could reach £90 million ($121 million, 101 million euros) and has quickly become a popular figure among supporters, […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has reassured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain that he has not made a mistake in swapping the Emirates for Anfield despite a lack of game time. The 24-year-old left Arsenal in a £35 million ($47 million, 39 million euros) deal on transfer deadline day but has so far been restricted to […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United's Ander Herrera says "favourites" Manchester City face intense pressure to win the Premier League after their summer spending spree and trophyless campaign last season. The Manchester clubs are joint top of the table with exactly the same record — 13 points from five games and a plus-14 goal difference. United […]

London (AFP) – Golbang, a new three-a-side format of the beautiful game, hopes to fill the same role as Twenty20 and sevens in cricket and rugby, its creator Bruno Schwobthaler told AFP. The Frenchman's brainchild can be played by mixed sex teams with a single goal and one team defending and one attacking with the […]

London (AFP) – Former England football captain Rio Ferdinand confirmed Tuesday he will train to become a professional boxer with the ultimate aim of challenging for a title belt. The 38-year-old former Manchester United star, who retired from football in May 2015, is taking part in online betting firm Betfair's "Defender to Contender" project and […]

London (AFP) – Former England footballer Rio Ferdinand is due to announce on Tuesday he is going to try and become a professional boxer just two months away from his 39th birthday, according to the Daily Telegraph. Ferdinand, who won 81 caps and made over 300 appearances for Manchester United, is an avid boxing fan […]

London (AFP) – Former England footballer Rio Ferdinand is due to announce on Tuesday he is going to try and become a professional boxer just two months away from his 39th birthday, according to the Daily Telegraph. Ferdinand, who won 81 caps and made over 300 appearances for Manchester United, is an avid boxing fan […]

Sydney (AFP) – Australia received a boost on Tuesday with captain Mile Jedinak named in an extended squad for their crunch World Cup play-off against Syria after he missed their final qualifiers through injury. A groin problem forced the Aston Villa star out of the Socceroos clashes against Japan and Thailand, in which they failed […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona begin a four-month stretch without injured club record signing Ousmane Dembele, but will be expected to sweep aside Eibar to continue their 100 percent start to La Liga on Tuesday. Cristiano Ronaldo returns from a five-match ban for Real Madrid 24 hours later at home to Real Betis, whilst Atletico Madrid […]